US officials have warned that the deepening ties between Yemenโs Houthis and Somaliaโs Al-Shabaab pose an additional threat to regional stability and maritime trade security.
Security experts state that the Houthis have sold weapons to Al-Shabaab and provided the group’s fighters with training on the use of drones, explosives, and combat tactics. Former US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking noted that Washington has expressed concern regarding the relationship between the two sides since 2024. Additionally, Matt Bryden, a former UN expert on Somalia, stated that up to 1,500 Somali fighters have undergone training at Houthi-run camps in Yemen.
Security experts warn that the cooperation between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab could extend beyond Yemen and Somalia to encompass the western Indian Ocean. The primary concern is that if the relationship between the two sides strengthens, the risk to commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Adenโvital corridors for global tradeโcould increase.
This situation also raises concerns that the weapons, training, and military technology acquired by armed groups could impact the security of Somalia and the Horn of Africa region as a whole.
